Little fucker. In truth, I really didn’t give a rat’s ass if every brother heard me fucking her. Let them all know I was claiming her and they could keep their hands and eyes off her.
I shook my head and began laughing myself.
Then I grinned.
I needed to go shopping; my baby girl needed a car seat.
THE TRIP BACK WAS way too long and boring as hell, resulting in too much time to think. I began to question the sanity of leaving my bugga-boo behind and leaving my job and apartment all to chase the dream of owning my own place. Sure, I knew the Oasis had the history of being a steady business, but was I really cut out to be a bar owner? Would the improvements I had in mind chase away customers who were loyal to Mama Jean? Would they be resistant to change? If so, I’d lose my parents’ investment.
It was a big stressor, weighing heavy on my shoulders.
My dad and brothers had offered to help with the remodeling I had in mind, but I’d still have to use a lot of my savings to buy the materials. It would nearly wipe me out.
It would also mean staying with my parents a little longer than I’d hoped, but I figured we could live with that. Not to mention my mom would be over the moon at having her granddaughter under the same roof.
But was I doing what was best for Remi? Because that was what really mattered in the long run.
Going home had made me think a lot about Remi’s future. Sure, she was young now, and I could keep her pretty safe and sheltered with Pam watching her, but what about when she started going to school? It was a big city, and the schools were big too. What happened if she became a number and got lost in the crowd, falling behind in her learning because her teachers were too busy trying to maintain a classroom with too many children, spreading their time with each student so very thin?
Initially, I’d rebelled at the thought of being stuck in that small town forever. After my visit, the thought of raising Remi in the same small town was comforting.
It was nearly unheard of for crime to be in the news. Of course, a lot of people felt that was because the MC scared a lot of the troublemakers away. They kept their seedier businesses, like their strip club, on the outskirts, leaving the garage and the lumberyard as their businesses in town. The lumberyard made a killing because they were the sole supplier to all the construction companies and contractors in the area. In fact, that would be where a lot of the materials I needed for the remodel would come from, except the restaurant and bar-specific equipment that I’d need to order from a special supplier.
Then there was Colton.
He was on my mind about every other second.
That had to have been the most mind-blowing sex I had ever experienced. Jesus Martha, talk about hot. I wasn’t sure what made that time better than all the rest, but it seemed like each time was better than the last with us.
Which got me wondering… would there be another time? He’d told me he loved me, but it was only that one time. Maybe he’d regretted saying it. And then he was really quiet when I left. I wasn’t sure how to take that.
I’d called Pam to let her know where I was and approximately when I’d be home. Dang, I’d miss our visits when I picked Remi up after work.
“I haven’t seen Michael all weekend. Let me know when you make it back,” she’d said.
Of course she hadn’t, probably because he’d been too busy stalking me back home.
“Okay, I’ll call you when I get there.” I was being careful on the trip back and trying to be observant of headlights that seemed to follow me. So far, anytime I slowed down if I got nervous, the vehicles all just went around me.
Thank God.
I really didn’t believe he would mess with me again, but the experience had definitely made me more aware of my surroundings—something I should have done before. Hindsight really was 20/20.
By the time I pulled into the parking garage, I was actually looking forward to crawling in my bed—well, sofa—and getting some sleep before work tomorrow. Once I parked, I called Colton.
“Hey, you’re there?” he asked. We’d talked off and on while I drove the three hours back, but we hadn’t spoken since I stopped for a restroom break about half an hour ago.
“Yeah. I’m about to pass out. Someone wore me out before my long drive,” I teased.
“Man, what an asshole. Should I kick their ass?” He chuckled.
“Naw, I kinda like him.”
“Him, huh? Should I be jealous?”
“Totally.”
I grinned when his laughter barked out. “All right. Well, call me when you get off work tomorrow?”
“Of course.” My heart fluttered. The whole situation was baffling. Last week, I’d have said I’d never see him again. It was crazy.
“Okay.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “Later, babe.”
“Later.” I ended the call and sighed. Then I called Pam to let her know I’d arrived.
“I’m so glad you’re here safe. I was worried about you driving back so late,” she said.
We continued to talk as I went upstairs after collecting my new key from my mailbox. I hung up with Pam, promising to go over to visit her after work tomorrow.
Once inside, I secured all of the locks on my door. Dropping my bag, I hung up my keys and went to the bathroom. After I brushed my teeth and peed, I shuffled out to the living room, set the alarm on my phone, and crashed on the couch.
In the morning, I didn’t remember falling asleep. I did, however, remember my dreams were once again plagued by a blue-eyed sex god, but this time they were so much more vivid and realistic.
THIS WAS MY SIXTH night having dinner with the raven-haired beauty sitting next to me. Sixth. Almost an entire week. I hadn’t missed a single day with her. After all, I had over two years of her life to make up for. I wasn’t missing another second that I didn’t have to.
Stephanie’s parents had been great. They had her ready and waiting at 5:30 p.m. every day after I got off work. I’d pick her up, and it would just be the two of us. Of course, she’d asked where her mommy was about a hundred times, and that broke my fucking heart.
Tonight she had a little pink princess backpack on when I picked her up.
She’d stood at the top of the steps to the porch holding her grandpa’s hand. Jumping up and down in excitement, she watched as I pulled up in my truck, complete with her hot pink and black car seat strapped in the back seat.
I couldn’t believe how happy that little girl made me. It was like her sunshine lit up all the fucking darkness in my head. When I was with her, I was bright, happy, free… saved.
That night she was staying with me for the first time.
I’d finally made the decision to buy my own place. I was able to take quick possession because the house had been empty for months after the elderly owner had moved to Arizona. His kids didn’t want it, and it had just been sitting there collecting dust.
I’d spent every lunch that week mowing the grass down, cleaning up inside, and picking up the bare necessities for furniture.
Hell, I’d become a right fucking Suzy Homemaker. Who would’ve thought?
The guys gave me shit every day, and I just laughed. What the fuck could I say? They were right, and I didn’t give a flying fuck. My life was nearly perfect for the first time in years. It was like this little girl of mine had breathed new life into me.
Now if I could convince her momma to join us….
Since I hadn’t been to the grocery store for more than the basics, we were eating at the town diner. I helped Remi cut up her food and then handed her the fork, keeping the knife over by my side of the table. I was learning all the little things that parents did to keep their children safe, and it felt fucking amazing.
She smiled at me as she sat on her knees and popped a bite in her mouth. She’d insisted she didn’t need a booster seat ’cause she was a “big girl,” and hell if I was gonna tell my little princess she wasn’t. Shit, that little girl of mine already had me wrapped around
her tiny finger, and she didn’t have a fucking clue.
I laughed to myself.
My mind wandered off to her momma again. I’d chosen the house on the edge of town with her in mind, but I hadn’t told anyone that.
It was on the road that ran down to the town square where the Oasis was located. It was also a little bit country, sitting on fifteen acres, so Stephanie would feel much like she had growing up. It would also allow Remi to have room to stretch her legs.
The guys were lined up for tomorrow to help me install a fence along the perimeter and a solar-powered automatic gate across the driveway. I wasn’t taking chances with my little princess getting out on the small highway.
It felt good to finally put the money I’d stashed away for years to good use. It didn’t hurt that I’d gotten a great deal on the house, because I planned on updating it while preserving the old farmhouse character.
When it came time for that, I was hoping Stephanie would help me make some of the choices for materials and colors. I was nervous as shit to ask her, but I really was hoping we could make a go of trying to be a family.
No, I didn’t know where exactly our relationship would end up. What I did know was the sex was fucking incredible, and I enjoyed being with her. She was sexy, smart, ambitious, loving, and a great mother. I could certainly do worse.
Okay, I was head over heels for her too, but I was worried I’d spoken too soon and made her nervous. So I’d kept my feelings to myself after I’d blurted my feelings out.
Remi and I finished our meals, and I paid the waitress. Funny how I noticed she was trying to flirt with me and coo at Remi. Yet my dick didn’t seem to give a shit, not even when she bent down to pass Remi’s plate over, giving me a clear and unobstructed view of her tits spilling out of her top.
A man may appreciate a nice-looking set of tits like a hot bike or a smoking car, but it doesn’t mean we want to own them all. She did nothing for me.
I gathered Remi up and loaded her in the truck, buckling her car seat like a pro. Who would have thought Colton Alcott would get the hang of this dad stuff so easily? And not just get the hang of it but love the hell out of it.
“You ready to go see Daddy’s new house, baby girl?” I wasn’t sure how much she understood of what I said, but she sure seemed to understand a lot. My girl was one helluva smart cookie.
“House!” Remi slapped her hands on the armrests of her car seat. I smiled and kissed her cheek.
As I started up my truck, Sixx AM’s “Life is Beautiful” blasted through the speakers. I looked in the rearview mirror at my daughter bopping her head to the music. Yes, yes, it most certainly was… and getting better every day.
MUCH TO EVERYONE AT the restaurant’s surprise and disappointment, I’d turned in my notice my first day back.
It was a sad moment for me as well, but I knew there were amazing things waiting on my horizon. I’d been packing like a fiend all week too. Remi’s room was done, and I was trying to go through her baby stuff to donate the items she’d outgrown.
All of the stuff in the kitchen was packed too. Well, all the stuff I wouldn’t use over the next week, anyway. There wasn’t much in the living room, and my brothers would help me with the big stuff like my couch and TV stand. I hadn’t really acquired a lot of furniture over the last few years, which would help make the move a little easier.
Tired after a long day, I sat down to watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn. It was Friday night, and I was taking a break to relax and chill. I also shot off a text to Becca. She’d been fighting with her boyfriend and had ghosted me to make him happy. He was such a douche.
My phone rang like clockwork at 8:30 p.m. Colton would make a point to have Remi call me after he’d dropped her off at my parents’ and she was ready for bed.
I smiled as I picked it up and answered.
“Hi, Mommy! Wemi go to bed. At Daddy house! Miss you, Mommy. Daddy talk. Nigh-night!” Those were the main points I caught of her conversation, which was interspersed with nonsensical toddler babble. It was hard not to laugh when she was trying so hard to sound big.
There was a rustling and pattering feet along with a muffled “I’ll be there to tuck you in shortly, princess” before his deep, sexy voice came on the phone.
“Hey. Everything okay with you? I guess you heard Remi is staying with me tonight? I really hope you don’t mind. I probably should have discussed it with you first. I didn’t really think about that until I’d already spoken to your parents and made the plans.” He was rambling about as much as his daughter had. It was obvious he was worried about my response.
If I was honest, I wasn’t really sure how I felt. I hoped everyone would behave, because I didn’t want my daughter exposed to the sort of things I saw on Sunday.
“Ummm, yeah. Are you sure it’s a good idea to have her there though? I don’t want that Gretchen bitch near her.” My hackles were rising. I didn’t even know that wench, but I sure as hell didn’t like the way she’d tried to start trouble between us. I especially didn’t want to think about what he may’ve done with her before. That made me a little nauseous.
“Well, about that…. We’re not at the clubhouse.”
“You’re not? Where are you, then? Did you get a hotel?” Please, God, let him have her somewhere safe. Not that I didn’t trust him with her, but I knew he wasn’t used to making child-centered choices yet.
“No… umm, I wanted it to be a surprise to you, but….” More shuffling as he moved the phone around. “Well, I bought a house. I was hoping you’d give me some feminine pointers on some of the decorating and remodeling. I wasn’t going to say anything until you came back. I guess I didn’t plan on Big Mouth Magee spilling the beans.” He let out a nervous laugh. “Are you mad? It’s clean, I promise.”
“I’m a little shocked, I guess. But no, I’m not mad at all. I didn’t expect you to leave the guys at the clubhouse. I thought you liked being close to them.” Absently, I flicked pieces of popcorn around the bowl.
I missed Remi something fierce. It had pretty much been her and me against the world for the last couple of years, so I was a little jealous on top of missing her. I was also really missing her daddy, but I didn’t know if he wanted to hear that.
I heard Remi holler, “Daddy!” in the background.
“Babe, can I call you back? I want to talk to you, but our princess is waiting for me. I won’t be long.”
“Sure,” I agreed and ended the call.
My head was spinning. Wow. He bought a house? I was impressed and surprised. He really was taking his new daddy role seriously. I began to imagine what sort of house he would choose as I waited for him to call back.
Probably something close to the shop and clubhouse in case he was needed. It would definitely need a garage big enough for his bike and probably his truck.
I hadn’t realized I’d eaten the entire bowl of popcorn until I noticed I was pushing seeds around trying to find more. I got up and placed the bowl in the sink, then refilled my water. I’d just sat on the couch when my phone started to ring again.
“Hey, you! That was quick,” I said without looking at the screen. There was only silence on the other end.
“Hello? Hellooooooo?” I looked at my phone, thinking he must have a bad signal and lost the call. Unknown caller. Weird. I rarely got those calls anymore.
“Hello?” Nothing. So I hung up. Must’ve been a wrong number. Then I thought I heard my doorknob rattle. It must have been my imagination, or maybe someone bumped it as they carried stuff down the hall, because I never heard anything else after that.
It rang again, and this time Colton Sex God popped up on my caller ID. I chuckled as I blushed, remembering entering him into my contacts like that after the birthday bash. I hadn’t thought to change it, but I probably should before he saw it.
“Hello there, good-looking,” I said in a sultry phone-sex-line voice, teasing him. I heard him chuckle and then groan softly.
“Don’t do that to
me. We’re too far away for that shit, and I think my dick heard you. Thanks a lot.”
“You’re so crude.” I giggled. “And I like it.” I wiggled my eyebrows as if he could see me.
“Baby, you haven’t seen crude. FaceTime me and I’ll show you how crude I can be.” The lasciviousness of his smile was audible.
I knew I looked like total crap. There was no way I was letting him see that.
“Uhh, yeah, I don’t know if that would be a good idea. I look like poop on a stick! And what if Remi woke up and caught you? Hmmmmmm, Daddy? How would that look, you naughty boy?” I teased him, hoping it would be enough to get him to drop the FaceTime thoughts.
He laughed. “I love hearing you say that. I also love hearing you call me ‘Daddy.’” He laughed as I said, “Eeww,” and fake gagged. “And okay, I’ll behave. But let me FaceTime you. I need to see you. I don’t care what you look like.”
He obviously wasn’t going to let this drop, so I reluctantly agreed.
Seeing his gorgeous face pop onto my phone screen made my heart lurch. The man did something to me with that smile and those dimples.
It made me want to reach through and mess up his dark hair and land kisses all over his face. Then I wanted to run my hands through the scruff along his jawline and across his cheeks. God, I knew I was smiling like a goof.
“There’s my gorgeous girl,” he said. “Man, I’ve missed you. Don’t get me wrong, I love having this time with Remi, and your family’s been great about it, but I kinda like having your ass around too.” He winked, and I laughed.
“We aren’t even really dating. We’re just co-parenting and getting to know each other. How can you miss me?” I laughed and tried to capture some of the stray hairs that insisted on escaping my messy bun, wishing I had put a little makeup on. “Besides, I look awful. You don’t need to fib to make me feel better.”
His face turned serious, and I thought I’d said something to piss him off.
Demented Sons Series Volume One: Books 1-4 (Demented Sons MC Iowa) Page 19
